always towards rear, never dangerous
in touch, led 3 out, headed next, ridden and kept on to chase winner after last
in touch, headway 4 out, led 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well
behind when blundered 1st, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders next, soon weakened
mid-division, headway and in touch 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
raced keenly in touch, led 6th, headed 3 out, weakened and pulled up before next
raced keenly, tracked leaders, lost place before 3 out, soon behind
led to 6th, weakened quickly next, tailed off and pulled up after 2 out
mid-division, headway 4 out, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, one pace flat
mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, ridden and kept on same pace approaching last
raced keenly in touch, lost place 6th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
behind, some headway after 3 out, never near
in rear, lost touch 6th, tailed off when pulled up before next
Leading Man should appreciate the drop back in trip to score here over the likes of Ungaro, Roaringwater and Tandava to name but three. Leading Man goes well in testing conditions judged on his latest three outings, in fact the softer the better for Ferdy Murphy's charge. He was the only one to give the favourite Mount Clerigo a hard time at Uttoxeter in December and on that run alone would be hard to beat here. Last time at Newcastle he failed to last out over the three miles though, and so the drop back in trip should prove the key to him opening his account. Ungaro seemed suited by the move up to two and a half miles when second at Wetherby, and is learning all the time over hurdles. He can give the selection most to do along with Roaringwater, for whom this trip could prove ideal as well, Richard Phillips' gelding having been tried over both two and three miles so far since going timber-topping. Tandava has plenty of racing experience, having been successful for Ian Semple on the level in the past, and has not shaped too badly of late, but he will find these real national-hunt sorts a different proposition in this ground, and Leading Man is the pick.
Dawn Devoy (IRE) 12-1 Held up in touch, tracked leader approaching 6th, led 2 out, soon headed, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 9, 21l behind Supreme Leisure at Sedgefield 2m 5f nov hdl (E) hvy in Mar.
Leading Man (IRE) 11-8fav Held up in touch, ridden to chase leaders approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next, left 2nd last, 2nd of 8, 16l behind Mckelvey at Newcastle 3m mdn hdl (F) hvy in Feb.
Mooramana 7-2 In touch until weakened halfway, 11th of 14, well behind Master Sebastian at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (E) gs in Jan.
Neidpath Castle 10-1 Held up, headway to chase leaders approaching 2 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 16, 8l behind Fair Spin at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gs in Mar.
Roaringwater (IRE) 9-4fav Led, headed 3 out, soon ridden, no impression approaching last, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Fair Spin at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (E) hvy in Mar.
Tandava (IRE) 9-4fav Prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on from last, 4th of 9, 2l behind Pendle Forest at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gs in Mar.
Ungaro (FR) 9-2 Held up, headway 4 out, chased winner 3 out, ridden approaching next, kept on but no impression, 2nd of 12, 7l behind Lord Rodney at Wetherby 2m 4f mdn hdl (F) gs in Mar.
Baby Sister 6-1 Mid-division, ridden 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 16, 16l behind Fair Spin at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gs in Mar.
